Tag: Green Lantern

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This week Black Panther and the Crew starts, Alien Day comes a little early, and The Prism of Time begins in Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns for New Comic Book Day. Remember this was only a small batch of what came out this week.
Check out our other blog articles so see our thoughts on other books. Be sure to comment or share our post on Facebook or Twitter if you like our articles!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

I wasn’t sure what to expect before reading Black Panther and the Crew #1. I knew of Ta-Nehisi Coates from his excellent run on Black Panther but I was worried that Marvel was spreading Black Panther too far, too fast. Imagine my surprise to find out that despite being a prominent part of the title, Black Panther doesn’t make an appearance in the issue at all.

Rather, the issue follows Misty Knight (and a surprise guest!) in a story that hits close to real world events while still fitting nicely into the Marvel Universe. Coates expertly captures the tension that exists today in places like Harlem, making the issue informative as well as interesting. Since this is a Marvel book, you can expect some action, and artist Butch Guice does an excellent job depicting it.

Black Panther & The Crew #1 offers something different than your standard Marvel comic and is highly recommended. I’m eagerly anticipating to see just how Luke Cage and Black Panther figure into the story. It’s not a book that was on my radar before but I’m immediately adding to my subscription; after you give it a read, I guarantee that you’ll feel the same.

Before we got Alien 3 in theaters, we got Dark Horse’sAliens Comics. And oh boy were they exciting! I remember reading these as a kid in excitement for the next movie. Seeing Hicks, Newt and Ripley all together fighting against Xenomorphs, I couldn’t wait for the next movie! Alas, we got David Fincher’s Alien 3 instead.

This rerelease hardcover contains the original Dark Horse arcs: Aliens: Nightmare Asylum and Aliens: Female War. It also reverts back to the original character names, which were changed in printings that came AFTER the release of Alien 3, from what I understand.

Nightmare Asylum, by writer Mark Verheiden and artists Den Beauvais and Sam Kieth, tells the four-part story about militarizing the Xenomorphs and what Hicks and Newt do to stop it.

In the second story, Female War, Ripley is forced back into the fray to protect Newt.

This beautiful hardcover collection is a must have for Aliens fans! There’s no better way to celebrate Alien day on 4/26!

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #18, like many of DC’s current titles, represent a rebirth of the Corps. Back in their home universe, the Corps unites under John Stewart, whose first order is to unite both the Green Lanterns and the Yellow Lanterns together to form one supreme space force. As you can expect, tensions are high and bad blood soon turns into spilled blood.

Just when things couldn’t look any worse, a surprise visitor lands on the Corps’ doorstep. This mystery man will be very familiar to fans of The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow!

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #18 is an excellent jumping on point for newcomers. Past events are succinctly explained and the focus is more on the future than on the past. This arc is shaping up to be one of Robert Venditti’s best and will impact the Corps for years to come. If you’ve ever wanted to check out this comic, now is the best time!

It’s review time for NCBD. This week we’re looking at an interdimensional team-up, IDW’s Deviation of Orphan Black and finding out where the Inhumans go from here. As always there are only a couple of books to come out this week. Make sure to check out our other blog articles to see our thoughts on other books. Be sure to comment or share our post on Facebook or Twitter if you like our articles!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

Green Lantern and Space Ghost is a concept that flows together so well that it’s surprising a crossover hasn’t been attempted before this comic. Both heroes are space cops, both wield weapons of great power, and both are continually motivated to do the right thing. In Green Lantern / Space Ghost #1 from DC, both heroes meet for the first time in a story that is out of this world.

Written by James Tynion IV and Christopher Sebela, the story follows the familiar tropes of any superhero team-up: The heroes meet, fight, resolve their differences, and team up to stop a larger enemy. While classic GL and Space Ghost villains like Zorak and Larfleeze make brief appearances, the plot and action revolves around completely new characters and villains created just for this story. The artwork by Ariel Olivetti is outstanding, bringing the action on the page to life in stunning detail.

While the main story is an all-ages affair, the back-up story featuring Ruff N’ Reddy skews slightly more adult in its tone, so parents buying the book for their children will want to keep that in mind.

If you’ve grown up with both Green Lantern and Space Ghost, this team-up is a dream come true and one that longtime fans will appreciate. If you’re new to these characters, Green Lantern / Space Ghost #1 serves as a great introduction to them. No matter which group you fall into, this story is a blast to read. [Josh P. at TFAW.com]

“Hey! You got Orphan Black in my Butterfly Effect.” Or is it the other way around? Orphan Black: Deviations #1 asks the question: What would happen if Sarah had saved Beth, instead of watching her die?

Set in the very same moment the show kicks off, Deviations will be a familiar tale for show watchers, but with distinct differences. On the show, Sarah witnesses the death of a woman who looks just like her, which sends her down a path of self-discovery; the comic sends her down the path of having saved her life instead. Writer Heli Kennedy takes on the difficult task of re-writing a story the fans are familiar with while making it fresh and unpredictable. As it turns out, Beth being alive changes quite a bit in this award-winning series, keeping favorite moments intact but with small tweaks and quirks. Artist Wayne Nichols does a phenomenal job of keeping the clones distinct without the benefit of actress Tatiana Maslany’s mannerisms and vocal shifts. Drawing directly from the color palette and costume design of the show, the art will instantly transport you back to season 1, with some new tricks.

This series is set at a much faster pace than the show, which will please the familiar but may alienate those new to the series. What’s old is new again, and nobody is safe in this alternate timeline tale. Maybe even a few new clones will show up… [Adam B. at TFAW.com]

If we’re being honest, I’ve never been a fan of the Inhumans. I know of them, I even like some of them, but as a group who was attempting to displace the X-Men? No thank you. Despite all of Marvel’s efforts to get me to read them, I simply refused. Now with Marvel attempting to make the Inhumans their own unique group once again and not a replacement for mutants, I figured there was no better time to give the group a try than with Inhumans Prime #1.

Wow, I wish I checked out the Inhumans a lot sooner.

Inhumans Prime #1 does an excellent job of introducing the reader to a wide array of Inhumans and their powers. The book focuses on familiar Inhumans, such as Black Bolt and Ms. Marvel, and new ones such as The Reader. While new readers may find themselves a bit lost in the events that transpire in this book (I had to look up a few things during my read), writer Al Ewing does an excellent job positioning the Inhumans up for a new status quo. I loved every page of it.

With a big reveal at the end, the book is the perfect set-up to Marvel’s newest slate of Inhumans titles, including Royals and Black Bolt. I know I’ll definitely be adding all Inhumans titles to my pull list ASAP, as well as checking out past stories like the Karnak TPB. If you’re an Inhumans fan, this is a must-read book, and if you’re like me and have been on the fence about the Inhumans for awhile, I strongly encourage you to check this book out. [Josh P. at TFAW.com]

The history of black characters in comic books has often been controversial and exploitative, However, the legacy of some has helped to define the public consciousness of race and culture. Black representation is still an uphill fight. But comic books are at the forefront of this fight, bringing characters of color to the forefront of the media.

There is still a great deal of work to be done. But creators and fans alike can unite through the fantastic characters that have come onto the scene in recent decades. These characters of color celebrate black lives in all forms. In honor of Black History month, here’s a countdown of some of our favorite black heroes.

War MachineAlias: James Rupert Rhodes

War Machine

Rhodes is best known for his inclusion in Iron Man’sarsenal of suited support, However, War Machine is a hero in his own right. He’s taken on such evil-doers as Obediah Stane and Hydra. He’s not just a part of Iron Man’sshadow, but a leader and a hero. Not only does he kick badie-butt, but he’s also a brilliant aviation engineer and a Marine in the US military. Rhodes also served as Iron Man for a stint filling in for Tony Stark when he was too inebriated to fly. War Machine single-handedly saving Stark Tower from the villain Magma. That’s just the beginning of Jimmy Rhodes road to super herodom. He later became the director of Worldwatch and the CEO of Stark Industries. Check War Machine out in Marvel’s War Machine Classic trade paperback by Scott Benson for a taste of what he has to offer.

Blade Alias: Eric Brooks

Blade

Maybe you know him best as played by Wesley Snipes in his millennium-spanning movie series about vampire hunting. But this unlikely superhero got his start in Marvel comics as a side character in the lesser-known title Tomb of Dracula. While his story got its start there, he’s had a much longer and more popular run as a leading man. His origin story alone sets him apart from your average comic character.

Born in a brothel, Blade’s mother was killed by a vampire (Deacon Frost) who had disguised himself as a doctor brought in to help assist with his birth. Frost feasted on Blade’s mother, in so doing passing on vampiric enzymes to the newborn Brooks and effectively infecting him with a modified version of the vampirism. He gained super strength, a lengthened lifespan, the ability to sense other supernatural beings and an immunity to other vampiric effects. After training for several years with vampire hunter Jamal Afari, Blade put these powers into action by traveling around the world to kill evil beings wherever he can find them. You can find Blade in the eponymous series, as a member or the Avengers, and in Blade: Black and White.

IronheartAlias: Riri Williams

Ironheart

If you are unfamiliar with Ironheart, you need to get yourself acquainted with her comics as quickly possible. Williams is currently the protege to Tony Stark. She started out as a fifteen year-old super genius attending M.I.T. Haunted by the memory of a violent incident that left both her stepfather and best friend dead, Riri built her own version of the Iron Man Armor suit using materials she stole from her campus. After catching wind of Riri, Stark officially took her under his wing and helped her to become a full blown superhero–Ironheart. After the second superhero civil war, Riri even built an A.I. version of Stark to help guide her heroing when the real billionaire was put into a coma. Ironheart’s story is still unfolding in the Invincible Iron Man comic series.

Spider-ManAlias: Miles Morales

Spider-Man

Miles Morales is probably the best known of a new generation of superheroes, having taken up the mantle of Spider-Man. Like Peter Parker, Morales was bitten by a mutated Oz Corporation spider. As a result, he has superpowers similar to the original Spider-Man’s, but with a few twists. Morales, like Parker, is also driven by a similar motivation to do good for his city. He is Black Hispanic and grew up in New York,. His experience is a perfect starting point for conversations about race in the realm of comic books. And writers of the series are not afraid to approach that subject. While his story isn’t as expansive as his mentor Peter Parker’s is yet, there are enough comics out there to be a little intimidating. So, a good place to start is the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.

Luke Cage (Power Man) Alias: Carl Lucas

Luke Cage

Luke Cage was the very first black hero to have his own title. Debuting in 1972, Luke Cage, Hero for Hire came out at the height of Blaxploitation. Despite this, he’s become a particularly powerful representative for the black experience in the superhero genre. He’s imbued with super-strength, and unbreakable after being forced into involuntary medical experimentation. Cage has had a storied history. He’s gone from working as a mercenary “hero for hire” to partnering up with The Fantastic Four to fight off Doctor Doom. He’s used his powers to defend the people of his Harlem home. Find Luke Cage in his own title trade Luke Cage: Avenger or the ongoing Power Man and Iron Fist series.

Storm Alias: Ororo Monroe

Storm

Storm is best known for affiliation with the Marvel comics team X-Men. Before being part of the X-Men, she was tragically orphaned when her parents were killed by an airplane crashing into their Cairo home. Left alone, Orora sought out her mother’s ancestral home in the Serengeti desert. There she was trained to respect and hone her powers, which had been passed through several generations of her family. After meeting with the X-Men, she learned the true nature of her magic (a mutant gene just like the rest of the team) and set about using them to better the world around her. Orora has seen a great deal of action in other titles like Marvel Team-Up and Black Panther. The best Storm story has to go to X-Men: Worlds Apart. Otherwise, you can find her story continuing to unfold in the Uncanny X-Men series.

Green Lantern Alias: John Stewart

Green Lantern

John Stewart became DC’s first African American superhero when he took up the mantle of the Green Lantern in 1971. Since then, his story has helped to define a generation of DC comics. Originally selected by the Green Lantern Corps as a backup for Hal Jordan, Stewart has served as a Lantern several times. He eventually became the first Guardian of the Universe- the Master Builder- during the Green Lantern Mosaic arc. Stewart’s incredibly keen intellect and preternatural will power makes him not only one of the most dynamic Green Lanterns, but one of the most remarkable characters in the DC universe. While you can find Stewart throughout most of the Green Lantern arcs after the early seventies, we recommend checking out Blackest Night or Green Lantern Corps: The Lost Army.

Spawn Alias: Al Simmons

Spawn

Al Simmons was a highly skilled Marine who learned too much about the nature of the CIA. In death, Simmons is Spawn, a demonic assassin with supernatural abilities and a huge agenda. Charged with battling both the forces of heaven and hell in order to hold a balance in the universe, Spawn is the anti-hero to end them all. Spawn’s long crusade has pitted him against street criminals, gods and everything in between. While originally conceived of by Todd MacFarlan, Spawn stories have been written by a number of other comics luminaries such as Alan Moore and Brian Michael Bendis. The best place to pick up the Spawn series is in its very beginning with Spawn Origins.

FalconAlias: Sam Wilson

Falcon

Sam Wilson was originally a social worker and former soldier. He was kidnapped by Red Skull after his plane crashed. Villain Red Skull used a Cosmic Cube to give Wilson the power to communicate telepathically with birds. While Red Skull was attempting to craft Wilson into a minion of Hydra, he was rescued by Captain America. The two quickly became friends and Steve Rogers helped to hone Wilson into the superhero Falcon.

After rescuing Black Panther, the Wakandan king gifted Wilson with a suit that would enable him to fly. He uses his ability to communicate with birds, his suit, and his will to do right by the world. Sam Wilson is a shaping force behind the Avengers team and the entire Marvel Universe. While best known for his service as Falcon, Sam Wilson was also selected by Steve Rogers as his official replacement as Captain America when he had aged out of the role. Find Sam’s origins in Captain America Epic Collection: Coming of Falcon or follow his current series Captain America Sam Wilson.

Black Panther Alias: T’Challa

Black Panther

King T’Challa Wakanda is without doubt one of the most powerful superheroes both on the page and outside of it. Widely considered the first true black superhero, Black Panther is fan favorite. His power and influence makes him fight against injustice and racism throughout the world. Black Panther is powerful in all senses of the word. He’s got physical strength and political pull as the king of technologically advanced African country Wakanda. He uses his power to unite people across the world. Black Panther’s story has spanned decades. He’s teamed up with just about everyone imaginable in the Marvel Universe from the Avengers to the X-Men. If you’re new to Black Panther, check out the incredible new series by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze.

Who else would you include on the list? And, which black heroes do you wish would get more attention in the future? Leave your answers in the comments below.

It’s a small week for NCBD Reviews. We’re looking at The Mighty Captain Marvel and Green Lanterns. As always These are only a small part of what came out this week. Check out our other blog articles so see our thoughts on other books. Be sure to comment or share our post on Facebook or Twitter if you like our articles!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

Back with a new series after the events of Civil War II. Carol Danvers has a lot going on. Running Alpha Flight, a TV Show about her, and of course her non-superhero duties.

Aliens from all over the galaxy are coming to earth for help. One small blue skinned Kree is getting some unwanted attention of some Army Rangers. Carol jumps into action saving the child and finding out that the ranger isn’t a ranger. They’re a galactic bounty hunter after the Kree child.

With a Captain Marvel movie coming out in 2019, if you’re not familiar with her this was a fine jumping on point. Yes, there are mentions of past events, but learning who Carol is at her core is still there. [Martin M. at TFAW.com]

What do you do when your greatest enemy is yourself? How do master willpower when anxiety and fear haunt your every thought. This stand-alone issue focuses on our newest lantern, Jessica Cruz, as we spend a day in her life trying to manage her chronic anxiety, but still be a hero. Let me just say, it’s moving.

Sam Humphries crafts a story that shows how anxiety really works. It’s not always the big, Earth ending things, but the little day to day things that tear away at a person’s confidence and willpower. It also goes to show that what makes a great Green Lantern isn’t being fearless, but the ability to concur your fear. Miguel Mendonca does a great job balancing the subtly of the story, along with the over the top action a series like Green Lanterns demands. I’m especially impressed that with the scenes focusing on panic attacks being more intense than the actual action.

If you’re looking for a personal story that really gets to the core of a character, Green Lanterns #15 is it. [Mikey N. at TFAW.com]

Green Lanterns #9 revisits a character we first saw in Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern run, Frank Laminski. In Green Lantern #30, Laminski was piloting a craft called the Flaming Spear when he lost control and had to be rescued by Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern.

Writer Sam Humphries takes us back to Frank Laminski’s childhood and shows us the events that make a meek middle child into a borderline sociopath. Always overlooked by his rocket scientist parents, his teachers, coaches, and peers, Laminski continually strives to be noticed, to be special.

The day he almost dies in the Flaming Spear, Laminski realizes that he set his sights too low. He becomes obsessed with obtaining a Power Ring and becoming the next Green Lantern. His life becomes a mess of insane risks, moonlighting as a vigilante Lantern, trying desperately to be noticed by the Ring and to be chosen.

When he ultimately finds himself weighed, measured, and found wanting by the Ring of Power, Laminski is at the end of his rope. In the lowest point of his despair, he discovers there’s another Ring. Anyone who goes to the trouble of obtaining the Phantom Ring can wield it.

Artist Robson Rocha does an amazing job showing depth of emotion in this chapter. He explores an intense range of expression on Laminski’s face, from anguish to elation. The character’s body language and ambulation tell us just as much about Frank’s mindset and mental health as his facial expressions.

Green Lanterns #9 is a perfect place to get started on Green Lanterns Rebirth. Chapter 9 kicks off a new story arc (The Phantom Ring, part one), gives a character study on the next Earth adversary, and a brief but informative narrative exposition on the history of the Lanterns on Earth. This is one of those rare issues that invite new readers along for the ride while providing all the elements regular readers are looking for in their favorite title.

This is a big week. We have 2 Rebirth titles, Civil War starts up again, and Bebop & Rocksteady get their own adventure for New Comic Book Day. As always these are only a few of this week’s new releases. Be sure to comment or share our post on Facebook or Twitter if you like our articles!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

The long awaited Marvel event is here! Written beautifully by Brian Michael Bendis and exceptional art from David Marquez, Civil War II is off to a great start!

Everyone fighting side by side as a team against some ungodly monster. As soon as the city is saved, Tony throws one of his famous “We saved the world, so lets drink!” parties. During this party, however, people start to ask ,”How did the Inhumans know exactly when that monster would appear in the city?” We are introduced to a new Inhuman named Ulysses. His new found powers are that he can see possible future events in the form of visions. This is what immediately divides the room. Captain Marvel quickly tries to recruit Ulysses saying that this could save the world from any danger. Iron Man disagrees: he believes the future is not something that should be messed with. This is the morality that causes tension between the two, and fuel is quickly added to the flame! At the end of the issue, you will be just as heartbroken and at the edge of your seat as I was. This just begs the real question though… whose side are you on? [Darcey M. at Universal Citywalk TFAW]

Superman is dead. Long live Superman! After several years of trials and tribulations, the final arc of Superman’s New 52 story arc culminated in Clark making the ultimate sacrifice to save the people of Earth. The Pre-Flashpoint Superman had come through, and is wearing the solar suit he wore after his death at the hands of Doomsday, in ‘the Death of Superman’ and a beard (which I rather hoped that he would keep).

Superman knows a thing or two about sacrifice, and this new Rebirth comes directly with the knowledge and respect of honoring that cost. The Superman of the New 52 is gone, but the Superman we knew before is back and ready to carry on in the tradition of arguably the greatest superhero alive.

The Rebirth titles that I have read so far have me ready to dive deeply back in to the DC Universe, and this issue really sets the stage for our Superman’s return. The art and story returned to me the vision of this hero that I had when his death rocked the nation. This is certainly a title that I will be proud to continue, and my hope has be inspired once again by the Kryptonian I’ve known since childhood.

A fun end to one of the better event books I’ve read. Spider-Women: Omega closes out a well-told adventure into an extra-sized issue, and while it didn’t do anything to greatly change the status quo of any of the characters involved, it did show why each of the main heroes are worth reading.

Dennis Hopeless and Nico Leon are the main creative team on the last issue for the finale, and do a good job of juggling characters and giving them each a moment to shine. It’s a Spider-Women book, and none of them are pushed to the side here.

If you are interested in this title don’t start here though, luckily there is a collected trade coming out in July and can be found here: Spider-Women TPB.

If you are looking for an entertaining and fun comic you can’t do much better than this. [Kyle S. at TFAW.com]

DC’s Green Lanterns Rebirth #1 reads like a checklist of proper ways to start a series. Ominous threat? Check. Compelling characters? Check. Intriguing premise? Check. Throw in some humor and Justice League cameos, then cover it in stellar artwork and you’ve got an awesome #1.

Our story follows two rookie Green Lanterns: Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. While Simon puts out a “tough-guy” persona, internally he’s filled with doubts about his place in America (where he’s been falsely accused of being a terrorist). Jessica is struggling to find her own place as well. With social anxiety in one hand and a Green Lantern ring in the other. Suddenly, their rings register a threat and are whisked off to battle an alien invader.

The dynamic between them is equal parts interesting and hilarious. As they try to one-up each other as a way of justifying their own position as Earth’s newest defender. It’s like watching two siblings argue over who deserves more desert. But they’ll need to work out their differences quickly. As our mysterious narrator says “The Prophecy said there was the Blackest Night. Then the Brightest Day. But now comes something else…” [Tim S. at TFAW.com]

Ben Bates, Dustin Weaver and IDW Comics bring us the beginning of a story that will no doubt lead us through the ages with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in tow!!

Bebop and Rocksteady stumble into a time traveling debacle, as our Turtle pals finding an old friend, Renet the Time Master! As the turtles begin to unfold a deeper mystery, Bebop & Rocksteady (the real heroes of this tale!) blunder on and reveal the likes of which these two (and me) did not see coming! The art by Sophie Campbell (TMNT, Jem & The Holograms, Wet Moon), Dustin Weaver and Ben Bates mirrors this kinetic romp through time. A raucous time shall be had by all! [Ethan S. at Portland TFAW]

What did you think of these books? What should we review next week? Let us know below!

Ready? Okay, here’s my original headline: WAKE UP, SUPERMAN! Your daughter is no longer daddy’s little girl, and THAT may be a problem for us ALL!

In all seriousness, both Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, and The Dark Knight Strikes Again were two of the most well-read and well-loved comic stories in… well… the history of comics, I’d say. Both have been reprinted, since their original releases, so that new readers can enjoy them the same as old, not to mention the multiple movies that were made based on Miller’s vision. DKIII picks up after The Dark Knight Strikes Again.

It has been a long time to wait to have Frank Miller’s world of the Dark Knight revisited in comics, and the storytellers are sparing no expense when it comes to strange new events and intriguing character developments. Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson, and Brad Anderson have been working hard on delivering a powerful new story segment, and deliver they have!

Again, SPOILERS TO FOLLOW, so beware!

First, let’s mention the language of the DKIII books, so far. While a bit wordier than Miller’s typical works, the modern use of texting-speak is quite unique in the DKIII comics, and is likely influenced heavily by co-writer Azzarello’s difference in style. It also harkens back, a bit, to the insertion of newscaster comments within TDKR.

The artwork shown in this issue, as well as in the two issues prior, is sequential-art storytelling at its finest. Kubert and the art-team have produced dynamic and intense pages of visual greatness. Their visuals effectively pull we viewers out of our chairs and into the vivid universe of The Dark Knight, just where we all want to be.

The Justice League, and most specifically for this story so far, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, DC’s holy trinity, have all pulled away from their previously focused world’s spotlight as heroes. Bruce Wayne has all but stopped doing the work of the Batman, and his complex present state of aging, makes him [somewhat sad to say] seemingly NOT the focus of his own book. Rather, Superman, Wonder Woman, and their daughter are now garnering more focus.

Superman, three years ago in the story, had gone into hibernation in his Fortress of Solitude and is now re-awakened by Bruce Wayne and his protégé Carrie Kelly in hopes of gaining the Man of Steel’s help protect against earth’s newly emerged and powerful foes. Quar and the other Kandorians, from the Kryptonian bottle-city of Kandor, are now becoming the major threat to our world. So far these villains have not been portrayed with enough depth, for my taste, and wish we could get more of an introspective view into the “why” behind their attacks and their demand that the entire human race surrender to their dominance.

Will Lara, Superman and Wonder Woman’s now grown-up and über-powerful daughter, side with we earthlings, or with the Kandorians? Guess you’d better pick up this issue, and probably the next few, in order to find out!

Oh, sorry, one last thing: Each of the three DKIII books, so far, has a mini-comic inserted within the comic, under the title “Dark Knight Universe Presents.” Issue one contains The Atom, two has Wonder Woman, and three has Green Lantern. All also worth checking out, but those are another set of interconnected stories to be discussed at another time.

We’re back again with reviews of a few books that we really enjoyed from this week’s new releases. Check out our other New Comic Book Day blog articles to see our thoughts on other books. Be sure to comment below or share our post on Facebook or Twitter if you want us to do more of these types of reviews!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

The next Predator/Alien/Prometheus event begins and stirs up some blood in Predator: Life & Death #1. This issue gives us a basic set we need. Where are they, why are they, and the hunt itself.

Looks like the Wayland-Yutani Corp wants to start some more terraforming of planets but before they send their people down, they send the USMC to make sure there are no pirates already taking the planets resources (yeah, pirates–guess they learned from LV-426).

It’s a good setup to what could be a fantastic Predator story. The pacing is good with strong characters. Brian Albert Thies’ art works very well, accompanied by Rain Beredo’s colors. I look forward to finding out more about this planet, its secrets, and why this mysterious ship is there. [Martin M. at Milwaukie TFAW]

This is one of the best hooks for a series I have read in awhile. Black Widow #1 is packed with action and so many questions that you just have to read the rest of the series. I fell in love with the art and color scheme as how well it matches the tone of the first issue. Mark Waid is back at it again, and has ceased to disappoint me every series he creates.

Natasha is not a character that will disappoint you in any way, shape or form. She plays by her rules, no matter what those might be. If you love espionage, action, and one of the best female spies in the Marvel universe, I highly recommend picking up this issue immediately! [Darcey M. at Universal TFAW]

Everyone has differing ideas of when their life took a turn, and when they were their best version of themselves–able to overcome adversity despite the odds. This experience of inner conflict is regularly explored in the DCU. Hal Jordan faces himself at one of his lowest points in Green Lantern #50. This all happens because of the magic of the DC Multiverse and the return of Hal’s previous incarnation as Parallax.

Hal has other plans and this Multiversal bleed appears to be leading him to some strange new Rebirth along with the rest of the DC Universe! If the rest of the DC titles begin to experience this change, shifting them towards something familiar yet new, the entire Rebirth initiative will be something quite tremendous to witness. [Casey D. at TFAW.com]

It’s been about two months since issue MMPR #0 first hit the shelves and after reading Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1, I can tell you that it’s still really good. Kyle Higgens does a great job developing the characters we grew up with in a way that feels the same as they ever were but, updated so that new readers won’t get lost in mythology.

I really, really enjoy Hendry Prasetya’s character designs and Matt Herms’ colors. Even the small glimpse of a past foe was a really cool nod to the show. If you’re a Power Rangers fan–old or new–this is a great comic for you!

PS: Be sure to pick up the MMPR #1 TFAW Exclusive Variant (pictured here); only 500 were produced, and they’re going fast! We teamed up with one of our Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (Hellboy Junior, WoW: Pandaria, Teen Titans Go, Wednesday Comics) for what we think is a pretty incredible cover. [Martin M. at Milwaukie TFAW]

What did you think of these books? What should we review next week? Let us know below!

Big things are in store for the Lantern family of books this October. BIG THINGS. The epic Rise of the Third Army event will span all of the Lantern books, and we’ll be introduced to the Third Army. Once upon a time, the Guardians formed the Green Lantern Corps with the idea that they would protect the Universe. As the Guardians lose faith in the Corps, they summon the Third Army to wipe out the Corps.

What is the Third Army, and how will our favorite ringslingers weather this coming storm? Who is the new Earth-born Lantern? What is the role of the First Lantern in all of this? Find out this October!

We’ve made it simple to share this video on Facebook and other social media outlets with the social networking buttons near the title. If you wouldn’t mind doing us a solid and sharing this video with your friends, we’d be eternally grateful. What should we review next week? Post your comments below and we’ll see what we can do!

We’ve made it simple to share this video on Facebook and other social media outlets with the social networking buttons near the title. If you wouldn’t mind doing us a solid and sharing this video with your friends, we’d be eternally grateful. What should we review next week? Post your comments below and we’ll see what we can do!

Two years ago, we made headlines when we were able to locate and procure Tauntaun Steaks. Sure, we sold out in a matter of minutes, but we’re told those steaks were out of this world.

This year, we challenged the TFAW Buyers to search for similarly hard-to-find products. They’ve answered the call, putting in massive amounts of overtime these past few months–traveling to exotic locales to find products that will completely change your life. Click on the images or links below to read more about these amazing finds!

These products are only available while supplies last, so make sure you order yours today! Be sure to use the facebook and twitter buttons above to prove to your friends that you’re so much cooler than they are. 😉